DHAKA, May 19, 2025 (BSS) – Biman Bangladesh Airlines has formed two investigation committees and rolled out an immediate action plan following a wheel detachment incident involving one of its Dash-8 Q400 aircraft during take-off from Cox’s Bazar on May 16.

Despite losing a wheel shortly after departure, the flight landed safely at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, averting what could have been a serious accident, the national flag carrier said in a statement today. 

In response, Biman has constituted two separate 3-member panels to investigate the incident from safety and technical perspectives. 

One committee, led by the airline’s Chief of Flight Safety, will carry out a comprehensive safety review while the second committee, under the Engineering and Material Management Directorate, has been tasked with examining technical aspects, reviewing maintenance logs, and recommending corrective actions.

Both committees have been directed to submit their findings within three working days.
Preliminary assessments indicate the wheel detached due to a bearing failure, the airline said, citing early technical observations. 

The aircraft manufacturer, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, has acknowledged that bearing failure is a known potential cause of wheel separation, as outlined in its maintenance manual.

Upon arrival in Dhaka, engineers confirmed that the left-side (No. 2) wheel was missing. 

Biman’s engineering team immediately carried out inspections on all Dash-8 aircraft currently based in Dhaka as a precautionary measure.

The airline has also reached out to De Havilland Canada, which has agreed to dispatch a specialised technical team by May 19 to assist in the investigation and provide further guidance.

Reaffirming its commitment to operational safety, Biman reiterated its strict zero-tolerance policy toward maintenance lapses and pledged to take all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence.